Our Spiritual Directors | Find Your Spiritual Guide Today

Emmaus Spiritual Directors

Connect with a trained spiritual director to accompany you on your journey deeper with God.

The testimonies of people who had experienced the benefits of having a spiritual director were moving and inspiring. Your ministry is a wonderful expression of God's love and tender care for His treasures here on earth.

STEVE READ, PHD
The Emmaus Society of Spiritual Directors has opened my life in unexpected and life-giving ways. Through our monthly Soul Care meetings, I gather with other spiritual directors to share wisdom, reflect on our practice, and pray. It refreshes my soul! Being part of ESSD strengthens and encourages me, reminding m that I do not do this sacred work alone.

SHANNON LEADBEATER, ESSD MEMBER
Ministry is challenging and can leave those who pursue it feeling depleted and lonely. Spiritual direction replenishes me. It deepens my perspective, keeps me grounded in God’s Word and reminds me that I am connected with Jesus and his community of friends.

REV. ANDREW GORDON, PASTOR
I discovered that I was serving out of a growing depletion of soul. I knew that I needed someone to come alongside me, and not listen for me—but to listen with me. I think every emerging leader needs a spiritual director. Not to replace God. Not to replace the discipline of being in silence, in solitude, and listening to God through scripture, or through the presence of the Holy Spirit—but to help clarify the questions.

REV. MARC GAUVREAU

Nurturing Your Soul Through Spiritual Direction

At Emmaus, we believe that each person’s relationship with Christ is unique, and that God is already at work in every life. Through spiritual direction, you are offered prayerful companionship to help you discern God’s guidance, deepen your awareness of His presence, and grow in intimacy with Christ.

Spiritual direction is a sacred practice of soul care—a Christ-centered space where you can pause, listen, and attend to God’s presence in your life. It is an invitation to bring your joys, struggles, questions, and longings before God, and to notice how the Holy Spirit is moving in your heart.

Whether you are navigating a season of change, seeking clarity in your calling, or longing to nurture your spiritual life, spiritual direction provides a sacred space to pause, reflect, and listen for God.

MEET OUR DIRECTORS

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Connecting With A Spiritual Director

We invite you to prayerfully read through the profiles below and notice who you feel drawn toward. Each spiritual director shares a brief biography describing their formation and approach.

When you’re ready, please reach out directly by email using the contact information provided in their bio.

- Grow in awareness of God’s presence.
- Discern God’s invitations and guidance in daily life.
- Explore questions of faith, purpose, and calling.
- Receive faithful companionship during challenging or transitional seasons.
- Deepen prayer life, reflection, and spiritual formation.
- Experience soul care in a sacred, Christ-centered space.
- Typical meeting frequency: once a month, approximatley 1 hour, in person or online.
- Attentive, prayerful listening and gentle guidance from a trained spiritual director.
- Confidential and safe space for reflection on your relationship with God.
- Not therapy or problem-solving—focus is on noticing God’s movement.
- Pray for guidance in finding the right director.
- Reflect on what you hope to gain from spiritual direction.
- Ask trusted friends, pastors, or others for recommendations.
- Have an initial conversation to ensure the fit feels right.
- Remember: Christ is the true Director; the human director accompanies you in prayerful listening.

Still Discerning? Connect With Us!

Join the Emmaus Society of Spiritual Directors

ESSD is a dedicated space for spiritual companions to find peer connection, shared wisdom, and a community of practice

LEARN MORE

TRAINING FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

Group of five people sitting around a wooden table in a cozy cafe, engaging in a lively discussion with notebooks, coffee mugs, and a teapot.

Emmaus Spiritual Directors

When you’re ready, simply click the email at the top of a spiritual director’s bio to reach out directly. We invite you to connect and explore whether this director may be a good companion for your journey.

Use the search bar to filter by location, online/in-person, and by name.

Featured

Auke Algera

Email: a.a.spiritualdirection@gmail.com

Location: Fraser Valley, British Columbia

Method: In-Person

Auke Algera is a graduate of Emmaus Formation Centre. He serves as a pastor in the Evangelical-Protestant tradition and brings with him nearly twenty years of pastoral experience. He believes that every person is in a process of spiritual formation. As a spiritual director he wants to help you make sense of your faith journey and grow in your relationship with Christ. He offers time and space to help you discern how God is present with you and how the Spirit is working in your life. Auke offers spiritual direction in the Fraser Valley in British Columbia.

Tracey Bagley

Email: traceylynnbagley@gmail.com

Location: Hamilton

Method: In-Person or Virtual

Tracey is a spiritual companion who delights in helping people notice the quiet ways God meets them in everyday life. Her gentle, creative approach creates space to slow down, listen deeply, and explore questions or longings without pressure or judgment. Trained at the Emmaus, and shaped by years in social work, theology, and ministry, Tracey brings both compassion and practical wisdom. She loves the moon, the colour red, and conversations that open the heart. Living in Hamilton with her husband, Jim, Tracey welcomes anyone seeking a safe, encouraging place to grow in faith and feel deeply seen.

Tracey offers both online and in-person sessions (Hamilton area).

Paul Bains

Email: paulbains30@gmail.com

Does your heart long for deeper fulfillment? Have you been spiritually faithful and attentive, yet parts of your life still feel heavy, dry, or repetitive? I offer a prayerful, mindful presence—a space where you are deeply listened to and gently accompanied. Together, we notice how God is already at work in your story, and we explore how the Holy Spirit invites you to respond. Rooted in years of formation in counselling, spiritual care, life coaching, and leadership, I walk alongside you as you slow down, listen more closely, and live more fully into God’s love and purpose.

Sharon Beattie

Email: bydesign.sharon@gmail.com

Sharon is a compassionate, empathic listener who delights in helping people connect more fully to God. She loves to accompany others on their spiritual journey and to help them understand God’s immense love and goodness in their lives. She creates a gentle, nonjudgemental space for people to share safely and openly. Sharon delights in coming alongside anyone honestly seeking to connect with God and, in particular, women in all stages of life – single, married, in school, raising children, grieving, in transitional stages, moms of LGBTQ+ children, or those within the LGBTQ+ community.

Carol Bell

Email: carollucillebell@gmail.com

Location: Kitchener-Waterloo

Method: In-Person or Virtual

At the heart of Carol’s ministry is the ability to create a safe place of trust and confidentiality for deep listening to your life story, while also listening deeply for the movement of the Holy Spirit in your situation, seeking to help you find renewed joy, hope and rest in your relationship with God.

Carol offers both Individual and Group Spiritual Direction (3-4 people) in an option of online or face to face meetings. She lives in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

Carol is an Emmaus graduate and brings 30+ years of leadership experience in the Christian, evangelical tradition. Her specialized areas are in Hospital Visitation, Grief, Cancer Support, Divorce Support and Mental Health struggles and Suicide Intervention.

Tom Bell

Tom Bell worked for Toronto Hydro for 31 years before joining the staff of The Meeting House as an associate pastor where he focused on pastoral counselling and spiritual direction, as well as providing support in other areas. He has a BASc (Electrical Engineering)(U of T, 1970), an MBA (U of T, 1979), and an MTS (Tyndale, 2007).

He trained in spiritual direction and supervision at Tyndale Seminary and is currently in the Emmaus Supervision Program. Tom provided spiritual direction in the church as well as in private practice and has provided individual as well as group supervision.

Robynn Bliss

Location: Port Colborne, ON

Robynn’s greatest joy is to come alongside and bear witness to how God might be bringing redemption, healing and hope. As a Spiritual Director she feels like she has a front row seat to the glory of God at work in people’s stories! Robynn received her Spiritual Director training through the Souljourner program (hosted by Benedictine College) in Atchison, Kansas. Robynn and her husband, Lowell, moved to Port Colborne, ON in 2018. They have three fabulous adult children. Robynn loves hot beverages and deep conversation. She cries easily and laughs loudly! You can find her online at: robynnjoybliss.com

Michelle Bodle

Email: michelle@abideinthespirit.com

Michelle is a graduate of the Center for Spiritual Formation Spiritual Direction Program, Drew University’s Spiritual Formation Certificate Program, and Fordham University’s Supervision of Spiritual Directors Advanced Certificate Program, in addition to a Mdiv and Dmin. She has served for over a decade as a pastor in the United Methodist Church and spiritual director. She now creates sacred spaces of holy listening through Abide in the Spirit, www.abideinthespirit.com, in addition to her vocation as a pastor.

Karen Bott

As a spiritual director, Karen provides a hospitable and welcoming place to discover, discern, renew, and question one’s relationship with God. Having navigated many storms throughout her life, she understands the value of having a spiritual friend to walk alongside, to provide confidentiality, hope, a deepening walk of faith, and how to live out one’s calling in everyday life.

Karen has been on staff at Youth For Christ, Canada, for approximately twenty years. She understands the challenges and blessings that come from a life of vocational ministry and is uniquely positioned to walk alongside those in parachurch ministries.

Paul Bramer

I am trained as a Spiritual Director through Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation and have a part-time spiritual direction practice (www.formationinsights.org). I have studied analytic psychology and dreamwork and have a doctorate in Christian education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. I am retired as a professor of Christian Formation and Leadership at Tyndale Seminary, Toronto. I teach in the Emmaus Formation Centre’s Spiritual Direction program (www.emmausformation.ca). I am ordained in Evangelical Covenant Church.

Lisa Brewitt

Lisa is both a pastor and spiritual director who loves helping people grow in their capacity to discern and experience God’s love, direction and empowerment and in their freedom to respond with greater faithfulness. She especially enjoys working with pastors and ministry leaders across denominations and ministry contexts. As a self-proclaimed “Bapti-Costal”, she brings to spiritual direction a strong grounding in God’s word and insight into the Holy Spirit’s movements. Lisa has a Master of Divinity (Pastoral Studies) from Tyndale Seminary and a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Emmaus Formation Centre.

Leanne Cabral

Email: leannecabral@icloud.com

Location: Toronto

Leanne is a graduate of the 3-year Spiritual Direction Certificate program at Emmaus. She is passionate about coming alongside others, inviting them to slow down and create space to connect with their soul and Creator so they can intentionally respond to the gifts, stirrings and calling He has placed within them. Her authenticity and gentle approach creates the kind of atmosphere that makes delving into this subject safe and comfortable.

Leanne is the creator of Bringing Faith Home speaking series and the author of A Parent’s Best Gift. She lives just outside Toronto with her husband James and their four kids.

Featured

Lynn Canby

Email: canbyhl@gmail.com

Location: Vancouver, BC

Lynn lives near Vancouver, BC just minutes from the U.S. border. Married 39 years, with three children and 5 grandchildren, she treasures friends and loved ones, laughter and meaningful connection.

Recently retired, Lynn is dedicated to offering spiritual direction, creating a safe, welcoming space where individuals feel seen, heard, and supported. She continues to deepen her understanding of accompanying others as they journey toward greater closeness with God.

Lynn is an active member of the Emmaus Society of Spiritual Directors executive committee.

Andrea Chang

Email: andrea@anchorandserenity.com

Spiritual Director and Transformation Coach
MTS, Spiritual Formation

I truly care for people. I will walk with you as you discern what is next and how to accomplish it. Being a spiritual director is like being a midwife, someone who assists others in giving birth to a deeper relationship with God.As I journey with you during this season of life, my prayer is that you will be able to hear God through all the noise, learn how He speaks to you, discern what He wants for your “right now” and trust Him for your “not yet”.

Phil Cole

Email: phil2vs13@gmail.com

As a former Baptist pastor, and as a trained Christian counsellor with the spiritual gift of teaching, Phil has a strong foundational knowledge of Scripture. In 2013 when God directed him to the practices of spiritual formation, it opened a new gateway into his heart that allowed his training to harmonize with the spiritual awareness of God’s presence. As a result, the Spirit of God has been allowed new freedoms to lead and transform him into a man who is daily discovering a richer joy and purpose in the Christian journey.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Religious Education (Emmanuel Bible College);
Bachelor of Theology (Emmanuel Bible College);
Bachelor of Arts – Sociology (Waterloo University);
Master of Arts – Counselling (Providence Seminary);
Certified Spiritual Director with CCPC global.

Aneta Coulter

Email: anetac59@gmail.com

Location: BC

Aneta is a graduate of the Emmaus Spiritual Director training program. She is committed to creating an honest, compassionate, contemplative listening space for those seeking to deepen their spiritual life. Her desire is that they would become more aware of God’s constant loving presence in their actual everyday lives. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired homeschooler. She loves a good book, coffee with friends, laughing with her grandkids, and spending time outdoors. Aneta lives in BC.

Ken Dryden

Email: theotherkendryden@gmail.com

Location: Calgary, AB

Ken and his wife Vera live in Calgary, AB, Canada. He brings his love for Jesus and skills in listening deeply to the role of spiritual director. His heart is to come alongside others as a companion in discerning the work of God. In his work as a spiritual director, he trusts in the Holy Spirit, who is the true spiritual director in our lives.

Ken has 28 years of pastoral ministry experience, as well as experience as a Regional Director for Alpha Ministries Canada.

Aukje Dykstra

Email: aukje.dykstra@gmail.com

Location: Georgetown, ON

Aukje believes God is present and active in every moment of life and sees immense spiritual benefits from pausing and reflecting. As a trained spiritual director, she delights to listen to your journey and be
curious about it, desiring that your relationship with God grows deeper.

An acute awareness of the bountiful grace she herself needs, enables her to offer a safe space to share and explore God’s work in your life. She would be honoured to be a spiritual companion on your journey, either online or in person in the Georgetown, ON area.

Erin Fenn

A graduate of Emmaus, Erin has embraced the idea that we are growing into the image of Christ for the sake of others. Walking through her own journey of discovery and continuing to deepen her relationship with God, Erin recognizes the great honour it is to protect a time and space for a Directee to draw closer to Him. Following the leading of Holy Spirit, Erin walks alongside you to gently allow for the wondering, wrestling and growing to occur. Erin welcomes an opportunity to create space to quiet yourself and learn to be still in order to better seek out the powerful presence of God in your life.

Mike Fischhoff

Email: onthejourney.life@gmail.com

Mike has been a Spiritual Director, after graduating from Emmaus in 2018. He graduated with a Master of Divinity in 2007, specializing in Youth & Family Ministry from Tyndale. He worked for more than a decade as the Executive Director for the anti-sex trafficking charity Fight4Freedom.

Mike is passionate about bringing together spirituality and social justice and journeying with others to discover their uniqueness, giftedness, and strengths. He loves to journey with others in real-life situations and listen together to what God is saying.

His wife and he have two little boys and a golden doodle together.

Karen Fletcher

Karen is a graduate of the 3-year Spiritual Direction Certificate program at Emmaus. She believes that it is essential for Jesus-followers to tend to their spiritual, emotional and physical lives. As we do this, it has ripple effects in our families, neighbourhoods and world. Karen’s passion for social justice and for coming alongside others on their spiritual journey has led to a spirit-filled, non-judgemental approach to spiritual direction. If you are in a season of doubt, struggle, transition, ministry exhaustion or feeling like there must be more to life with God, Karen will provide a safe space for you.

Elena Franklin

Email: elena@holyinvitation.com

The whole of you matters. With deep listening and whole-person attentiveness honed through 20 years of spiritual direction—alongside clinical counselling, ministry leadership, and coaching—I provide a discerning space to be seen, heard, and to notice the presence of God in your life.

Committed to Christ-centred, redemptive principles of whole-person health and relational vibrancy, together we notice the holiness of everyday life, and receive God’s restorative presence and attunement. My approach is relational and grounded, shaped by a Christ-centred vision of each person as deeply known, loved, and called to participate with intention in our own lives and in the lives of others.

Nadine Gascho

Email: listenlife7@gmail.com

Method: In-Person or Virtual

Nadine Gascho; MA in Spiritual Formation, certified spiritual director through Soul Stream, Canada.

As a spiritual companion, I count it a privilege to support you in your relationship with God. I offer you a safe space to share your story and explore the journey of your heart. With the focus on listening for how God is present, I look to the leading of the Holy Spirit (as the true Spiritual Director). Whether meeting in-person or through video conferencing, the session with you is an unhurried, contemplative space. As a missionary, myself, I am particularly drawn to and have much to offer cross-cultural workers and women in ministry (but am open to all).

Marc Gauvreau

Email: mjgauv@bell.net

Marc Gauvreau is one of our course instructors and has been with Emmaus since 2014. As a spiritual director who trained under Dr. Sandy Broadus, Marc brings a Spirit knitted blend of disarming companionship, attentiveness, and prayerful discernment to his practice.
Ordained with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada for over the 30 years, he has pastored in several congregations specializing in discipleship-based spiritual formation and small groups.

He is married to Karen, his truest friend and together they have 4 boys, the youngest being 9, who in Marc’s own words, “keeps me well-grounded and always ready for an adventure.”

Featured

Peter Giokas

Peter Giokas (MTS, MDiv.) trained and worked as a Child and Youth worker. He then worked at an inner city mission serving in a variety of leadership roles. Ordained with the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec, Peter later pastored a church in Hamilton. More recently he was on staff with the Greater Ontario House of Prayer (GOHOP) with which he is still actively involved as a Companion. Now working primarily as a spiritual director, he finds delight in seeing people recognize and respond to the Spirit as He draws them into deeper faith, greater freedom and experience of God’s love. Peter has three grown sons and one grandson, and loves being married to Sandy. He is a student of old and new monasticism, the Christian mystics and is a member of the Order of the Mustard Seed.

Michelle Gowland

Email: michelle@innerascent.life

Method: In-Person or Virtual

Sometimes we find that we are better at doing for God than we are at being with God. Spiritual direction is a place where we can learn to slow down, listen deeply, and allow the love of Jesus to nourish our hearts.

I previously worked in church ministry and earned my MDiv in Spiritual Formation from Tyndale Seminary. It would be my privilege to be your companion to discovering God’s revelation of Himself to you. I have flexible appointment times online and some in-person availability.

Floyd Grunau

Email: floyd@grunau.ca

Floyd (BTh, MDiv, DMin) has found joy in serving as a spiritual director for men since 2006. He has ministered as a pastor and chaplain in Canada and as a cross-cultural worker/teacher in Indonesia, the Philippines and Toronto.

Floyd sees spiritual direction as an experience in Christian companionship guided by the Holy Spirit. It provides a safe, caring place for men who desire a spiritual friend to be with them on their soul journey with Jesus.

Floyd enjoys walking with his wife Joyce, reading, singing with his guitar in senior homes and to church senior groups, and sharing God’s love. He has 3 married sons and 13 grandchildren.

Kathy Gust

Email: kathy@kathygust.com

Location: Burlington, Ontario

Kathy lives in Burlington, Ontario with her husband and 4 children. She loves to come alongside people in spiritual direction and provide a welcoming space for them to explore and express their relationship with God. The intention of her spiritual direction practice is for people to grow in self awareness and God awareness so they can experience more freedom, faith, hope, and love. Kathy values family, friendship, authenticity, creativity, and learning. She likes to experiment with different creative expressions and loves all forms of skiing.

Kathryn Hodgson

Location: Ottawa

I had the nudge to begin training in Christian Spiritual Formation and Direction many years ago. I discussed with two friends this yearning for the journey. Through God’s direction I found Emmaus Formation Centre, and I have been studying with Emmaus for the last two years. I am entering my third year in September 2021.

I love God and I love to see people grow deeper in their relationship with God, and would be humbled to journey with those who seek him deeply.

Kathryn lives in Ottawa with her husband Lawrence, 4 children, and 2 grandchildren.

Sandra Hong

Email: sandrahong@newlake.ca

Location: Guelph, Ontario

During my own faith journey, I was introduced to Contemplative Prayer and Spiritual Direction which became transformative for me. The privilege of working with a Spiritual Director continues to be a life giving and life shaping gift.

I was Ordained in The Salvation Army and served in Pastoral Ministry with my husband for 26 years. We have two married daughters, 5 grandchildren and live in Guelph, Ontario. I am also a graduate of the Emmaus program.

I look forward to creating a safe, hospitable place where people can share their journey and experience the joy and mystery of being God’s Beloved.

Lorna Junker-Andersen

Email: l.junkeran@gmail.com

Because Lorna believes that God is active and present in daily life, her desire and joy is to walk alongside others, together paying attention to His presence, His love and His activity in their everyday lives. It is her great joy to be a witness to God’s transforming work in their lives, growing in intimacy with Him and into the fullness of who He created them to be. Her training in spiritual direction, in healing prayer, in loss and grief through her work in palliative care, and in emotionally focused therapy assist her in journeying with others.

Mee Yun Kim

Mee (B.S.W., Dip.CS, M.Div., CSD, RSW) has experience working with all age groups in various settings, such as government, institution, community and church settings. Currently, she offers spiritual direction and counselling through her private practice and also serves as the education director and young adult pastor of a local church.

Her passion, shaped by our Trinitarian God, is to walk alongside people and to see them deepening their relationship with God in their ordinary, everyday lives. By attending to God’s loving presence, her desire is to offer a space where people can enter more deeply into the person of Christ and into their own uniqueness.

Mary Anne Langmaid

Email: malangmaid@gmail.com

Mary Anne Langmaid is a pastor with 25 years of ministry experience, now also serving as a Spiritual Director. She finds joy in journeying with people as they listen to God, embracing the truth that everyone can hear Him in their own unique way.

A passionate advocate for inclusion, Mary Anne believes all are welcome in God’s love. She is deeply inspired by the beauty of the outdoors, cherishes animals, and is dedicated to serving people of all ages. Her heart’s desire is for everyone to know Christ and discover their true identity in His unconditional love.

Linda Langman

Email: 4lmlangman@gmail.com

Location: Cochrane, Alberta

Linda Langman (BEd, MA in Christian Ministries) is a graduate of the Emmaus Spiritual Direction program. She views Spiritual Direction as a ministry of spiritual companionship — as one who meets to walk withanother sojourner for a while. Her desire is to listen with ears attuned to the person she's with as well as to the true Director, the Holy Spirit, with the goal of paying attention together to God’s presence and communication in the midst of everyday life. Linda and her husband currently live in Cochrane, Alberta. They have three daughters and two sons-in-law.

Christie Latta

Email: christielatta@gmail.com

Christie Latta is a graduate of Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction. She believes that God is present in everything - the good, the hard, and the ordinary. It is her greatest joy to accompany others in discovering where God is at work in those places.

Christie would be honoured to journey with you, looking for God “In the here, now, because the place where we are in our lives is the place where we find God. This is where God lives.” (Alice Fryling)

Shannon Leadbeater

Email: deeplyrootedspiritualdirection@gmail.com

Location: Vancouver, BC

As a Spiritual Director, trained through Emmaus, my desire is to help you pay attention and respond to God’s invitations and activity in your life. My approach is to pay attention to you and the Holy Spirit without agenda, to listen and linger with what resonates, to observe and offer questions and spiritual exercises as appropriate, to create space to hear from God directly, and to be a prayerful presence as you discern God’s transforming love, grace, truth, and leading in your life. I live in a suburb of Vancouver, BC with my husband and 2 children and love to read, walk and kayak.

Website:
www.deeplyrootedspiritualdirection.com

Featured

Wendy Machry

Email: wendymachry16@gmail.com

Wendy sees her role as spiritual director to be like that of a compass. As you participate in the adventure called life it is helpful to have a faith companion to help orientate your life around God’s presence so you can explore and self-discover where God is active and guiding you. This will encompass us holding safe space, being deeply present to what we hear and becoming more aware of the experience of the presence of God.
Wendy is a retired elementary school teacher.

She loves quilting, reading, walking the dog and spending time with her husband and grown children.

Eldon McBride

Email: eldonmcbride@gmail.com

Eldon is a professional vocal accompanist who is currently practicing his accompanying skills within the ministry of spiritual direction. Having prepared for this ministry through the discipleship program at Journey Canada and the spiritual direction program at the Emmaus Formation Centre, he now accompanies followers of Jesus as they seek to hear the voice of God and discern how He is at work in their lives. His primary interests are focused on those who are impacted by LGBTQ issues.

Ann McCallum

Location: Tottenham, ON

Ann is a graduate of the Emmaus Spiritual Direction program. She brings with her a wealth of experience from 22 years as an Executive Director with Youth for Christ, and the rich mentoring relationships she has fostered with many young women. She now practices Spiritual Direction from her home in Tottenham, ON and is the Administrative Assistant at Emmaus. Ann is also the author of the Bible Study “Holy Calling: Becoming a Godly Wife”. Ann has been married to Keith McCallum for 40 years, has 3 adult children and 10 grandchildren. Ann loves leading guided Spiritual Retreats for individuals and groups, and Meditative Hikes.

Ellen McClelland

Email: ellenmcclelland200@gmail.com

Method: Virtual

Ellen is a former educator and a graduate of Emmaus as a spiritual director. She is continuing her training in the Contemplative-Evocative approach. Ellen is familiar with the challenges of chronic physical health issues. Ellen is currently exploring how the arts can assist in deepening our relationship with God. Her most passionate desire is to partner with others believing all stories are valued and sacred. She is an attentive, compassionate listener seeking to discover where God is at work: in the ordinary, the difficult, in discerning new directions or in finding peace through a deeper relationship with Jesus. Ellen is available to meet online.

Linda McFarlane

Email: llmcfarlane@rogers.com

Location: Durham Region

Linda is a graduate of Emmaus Formation Centre’s Spiritual Direction Certificate program and lives in Durham Region. She has over thirty years of leadership experience in corporate and healing ministry settings and loves the Word and prayer in its many forms.

Her great passion is to come alongside others as they discern where God is present and at work in their everyday lives. She provides a safe place to explore your story and encounter God’s healing and redemption.

Whether you are pursuing greater intimacy with God, navigating a difficult season, or seeking discernment, she would love to accompany you.

Jan McIntyre

Email: janmcintyre715@gmail.com

Location: Vancouver Island

Method: In-Person or Virtual

I had a 45-year nursing career in Community Health and as a Parish Nurse. After retiring, I graduated from Emmaus Formation Centre as spiritual director. It is an honor to sit with another and hear their stories, to invite the Holy Spirit into this time and to experience the transformation of knowing the touch of Jesus and not just about Jesus.

I have experience with church trauma, grief, health concerns, inner healing and day-to-day living as a wife and mother.

I live on Vancouver Island and look forward to meeting directees, either in person or on Zoom.

Rhonda McLeod

Email: rregismcleod@gmail.com

My name is Rhonda McLeod, Spiritual Director and graduate of Emmaus Formation Centre, and a licensed Chaplain. My joy is experiencing the beauty of the moment(s) that God’s children recognize Him as the One who is journeying with them. Finding sacred space for confidential conversations or exploring spiritual life is valuable to spiritual formation. Where two or three come together in His name, God has promised to be there. He is the Rain Maker and Rain Giver.

Hosea 6:3- He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.

Elizabeth Millar

Email: elizabethmillar330@gmail.com

Location: Prince Edward Island

Elizabeth Millar (BA, MTS, DPT student) is confident that God is present in ordinary life and that God desires interaction with us. With a sense of joyful curiosity and prayerful attentiveness, she is interested in being a spiritual companion for those who want to know and experience God more. She has a particular heart for students as they navigate academic life and theological studies. Elizabeth has experienced living in various settings (rural prairie, inner city, suburbia) and is now enjoying small town life on Prince Edward Island. She is married to a minister and backyard farmer, and is mother to 5 beautiful people.

Christine Moss

As a Spiritual Director my role is to encourage people to seek Eden, that place where we were created to be in relationship with the Creator and experience peace with the Godhead.

As a Spiritual Director, I imagine myself as a Lighthouse Keeper, the one who helps to keep the light burning brightly and the windows clear for others to see the Light for themselves and allow Holy Spirit to do his work of transformation.

“For you are God’s masterpiece. He has created you anew in Christ Jesus, so you can do the good things He planned for you long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Jan Mutter

Location: Hamilton, Ontario

BRE, MTS

Jan is an ordained Pastor and a Spiritual Director. She has degrees from Tyndale (OBC) and Heritage Seminary as well as a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Emmaus. In addition to this, her work background includes a career in manufacturing.

Jan views Spiritual Direction as part of her calling as a pastor. She will offer spiritual guidance, companionship, encouragement and help particularly in difficult transitions and valleys. Jan has a special interest in walking beside women who are developing leaders.

Currently Jan resides in Hamilton, Ontario with her husband. She has three grown children and six grandchildren.

Jenny Nasmith-Yandt

Email: jennynasmith@gmail.com

Location: Ottawa

Method: In-Person or Virtual

Jenny is a spiritual director with a background in pastoral ministry and people oriented work. She wholeheartedly welcomes every stage of faith—wrestling with questions, rebuilding, growing from steady roots, or a mix! She is passionate about spiritual practices, both traditional and innovative, that nurture well-being with Christ in heart, body, mind, and soul. Jenny approaches her work with reverence and joy, and delights in helping others become aware of God in all areas: sacred, secular and the in-between. She lives in Ottawa, and meets in-person and online. She completed her spiritual direction training at Emmaus, and holds degrees in linguistics and psychology.

jennynasmith@gmail.com

Denisa Nica

Email: denisa@lighthauscoaching.com

In the midst of a driven, seductive, disorienting and distracting culture, Denisa is an author and spiritual director who helps Christians cultivate the skill of orienting themselves toward God and others. Her deep longing is to see others move toward wholeness and is keenly interested in how engaging the spiritual practices shape our spiritual formation.

Denisa also develops guided contemplation exercises and leads spiritual direction retreats in Spain, Canada and Romania.

Denisa Nica is a trained spiritual director with Emmaus and a graduate of Regent College. Her book Kairos, When the Holy Meets the Daily is a devotional pilgrimage through the Psalms.

Featured

Nicole Nowochin

Email: nicolen@unforcedrhythmsministry.com

Location: Red Deer, Alberta

Method: In-Person or Virtual

BA, MCM

Nicole has an unwavering passion for soul care, personal growth, and spiritual formation. She offers deep listening, encouragement, wisdom, and discernment for personal and spiritual growth during various life seasons for life-changing encounters with Jesus and His invitation to live in His non-anxious presence of Unforced Rhythms.

Nicole is married to Charles and has two adult children. She lives in Red Deer, Alberta. She loves to read, enjoy the mountains, create, and sip a good cup of tea with another!

Sessions: in person, Zoom, What’s APP.

Joyce Peasgood

Email: joycempeasgood@gmail.com

Location: Kamloops, BC

Method: In-Person or Virtual

Joyce is a trained spiritual director through Shalem Institute, and offering spiritual direction for over 43 years. Joyce’s practice includes women and men, pastors and non clergy. She is an ordained Baptist minister. She continues to teach prayer practices, and guides retreats in churches and academic settings.

For a Jesus follower, or a seeker, the safe space fostered within spiritual direction is sacred, gentle and revelatory. Joyce experiences enormous joy in being present to others in these moments, whether in person or online.

Joyce is married to Ed, and they have 3 children with 6 grandchildren. They make their home in Kamloops, BC.

Kathy Pedersen

Email: kathy.pedersen.SD@gmail.com

I resonate with the image of spiritual direction as me accompanying you on your life's journey - my eyes and ears adding to yours in the 'noticing' of God at work. It is my delight to offer hospitality through listening and contemplative practices in our sessions. I recently received my Certificate in Spiritual Direction through Emmaus. Prior to raising children — who are now adulting at university — I was involved in parachurch ministry in high schools and at camp. Please reach out!

Tammy Pierce

Email: tammypierce14@gmail.com

Location: Port Credit

Tammy, a graduate of Emmaus Formation Centre’s Spiritual Direction Certificate program, desires for her directees to personally connect with the Lord, discover God’s present activity and invitation. Spiritual direction is about being a companion through times of blessing, challenge, all the while searching for and noticing God.

Tammy became a Christian at Teen Ranch, and enjoyed working at camps for many years in various capacities. She lives in Port Credit with her two children: Taylor and Wesley. She enjoys her job as the office manager at Clarkson Community Church, engaging with people of varied backgrounds, on a daily basis.

Elizabeth Pietrantonio

Email: stirlingcrossbooks@gmail.com

Elizabeth is a graduate of the Emmaus Spiritual Direction program. She is active in her Catholic parish leading faith studies and fellowship groups. Her career was spent in international engineering management and, later, as a professor and associate dean. She has a Masters in Theological Studies and began her own faith journey with a Spiritual Director. She knows how important it is to walk with someone on that path. Elizabeth is thankful for the blessing to witness another's deepening of their faith and trust in God through the graces and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. She is married and has published a number of books on the Bible.

Josiah Piett

Email: seed2treeministry@gmail.com

As a spiritual director, I desire to create a space for you to slow down, be still, and pay attention to your inner and outer world in hopes of discovering how God may be meeting you. I am passionate about accompanying those who are in a time of discernment, distress or desire to deepen their relationship with God.

My name is Josiah Piett I would be honoured to journey with you through providing Spiritual Direction. I received my training as a Spiritual Director through Tyndale Seminary Master’s of Divinity in Spiritual Formation program.

Anita Plat-Kuiken

Email: anitaplatkuiken@gmail.com

Location: London, ON

Method: In-Person or Virtual

Anita Plat-Kuiken is a graduate of The Haden Institute with certificates in spiritual direction and dream work. She provides compassionate, relational space for those seeking to deepen their spiritual journey. Anita uses the Enneagram to help individuals recognize patterns in their waking life, while dream work offers insight into the language of the soul. Committed to seeing Jesus at the core of all truth, Anita offers accompaniment to those seeking a rhythm of intentional reflection on the Holy Spirit’s presence and invitation to participate in God’s redeeming work in all areas of life. She is based in London, ON, and available in person or via Zoom.

Jocelyn R. Plett

Email: ferventfolk@gmail.com

Location: Winnipeg, MB

Method: In-Person

Jocelyn (BA, BTh) is a graduate of the Sustainable Faith Spiritual Direction program. She has 15 years’ experience in missions working broad in Lithuania and Madagascar and has been an active member in a variety of churches including Evangelical Mennonite, Anglican, Charismatic, and Non-Denominational. She has experience with spiritual abuse and deconstruction and has deep compassion for those whose sacred stories involve similar circumstances.

Jocelyn is an artist and entrepreneur in addition to practicing Spiritual Direction from her home in Winnipeg, MB where she lives with her husband and 3 teen boys.

Donna-Michelle Rancoeur

Email: rancoeurd@gmail.com

Location: Oakville

Method: Virtual

It is with gentle curiosity and a calm presence that I hope to create a safe space for spiritual direction. I delight in listening to people as they notice where God may be at work in their everyday lives. Prior to studying Spiritual Direction at Emmaus, I worked as a Registered Nurse in Geriatric Psychiatry and then as a Reflexologist. I enjoy leading contemplative groups and spiritual practices in my own congregation. I am blessed with young adult children and live in Oakville with my husband, a dog, a cat and lots of plants.

Donna-Michelle (B.A., MSc.A.) offers online sessions.

Kristen Rekker

Email: kristen@threestrandsministries.org

Location: Guelph

Method: In-Person or Virtual

Kristen is a compassionate spiritual director who delights in hearing from the Holy Spirit while helping others seek greater depth and authenticity within their own spiritual journeys with Jesus. With her empathetic approach and her interest in the relationship between emotional health and spiritual health, Kristen loves to see others discover the goodness and the presence of God in daily life. Living in Guelph, she delights in meeting others locally, or for those more distant, virtually.

John Sheeren

Email: john.sherren@nexicom.net

John is a certified spiritual director through Tyndale Seminary with over 25 years of technical leadership experience and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities and handyman projects. John’s ministry supports men from a variety of Christian traditions and vocational backgrounds as they experience life change. Using time-tested spiritual practices, he supports directee’s as they explore what is most apparent in their life with our Triune God. If emotional or spiritual wounds are uncovered, he offers a safe place where they can share their burdens, then receive God’s forgiveness and healing grace.

Jane Sider

Are you recognizing parts of your life where you feel stuck in old patterns, overwhelmed, depleted, or are you just straight up yearning for deeper growth and breakthrough?

I offer a safe listening space to help you cultivate a deepening awareness of where God is present and active in your life and story, and how you respond. Drawing on years of experience and training in overseas Mission, Chaplaincy, Spiritual Direction, and Coaching, I help people just like you, deepen their journey to be still, be awakened, and be love(d).

*Experienced in accompanying Pastors, Leaders, those in roles serving others (here/abroad).

Featured

Dianne Szkarlat

Email: dszkarlat@hotmail.com

Location: Alberta

Dianne lives with her family in Alberta and currently serves at an Alliance Church. She completed her two-year Spiritual Direction program, Listening People to Life, through Kairos University in 2024. Dianne's prayer is to be a trustworthy companion on your spiritual journey. Her passion is for people to recognize and respond to the presence and movement of God in daily life, and to live out of their identity as God's beloved. Her vision for Spiritual Direction is best reflected in Psalm 116, which assures us that God bends down to listen. Dianne is a member of the Order of the Mustard Seed.

Julia Tarcisius

Email: juliagodlight@gmail.com

Location: Milton, Ontario

Julia is passionate about getting to know people on a deeper level. She has a degree in psychology, and decades of experience serving in various ministries. These have played a significant role in cultivating her desire to come alongside people, wherever they are in their faith journey, and offer them a hospitable space to be both seen and heard and to hear from God. She would consider it an honor to be a part of your journey.

Julia currently lives in Milton, Ontario with her husband, their 3 kids, and their energetic pup.

Laura Taylor

Email: taylor-laura@comcast.net

I companion men and women seeking to know God better, to hear and experience his presence, and to grow in faith. My practice includes prayerful attention to God, spiritual disciplines, Ignatian spiritual practices, scripture, and deep listening. I bring a range of experiences to spiritual direction. I was a pastor’s wife as well as a corporate executive; I am also a mother and understand the stresses of being a military mom. It would be my joy to journey with you in your unique circumstances and faith experience.

Or visit:
laurataylor.net

Julie Tofilon

Email: jmtofilon@gmail.com

Julie (DMin., PCC, CSD) graduated from the Emmaus Spiritual Director Program, and holds a Doctorate in Leadership and Spiritual Formation from Columbia Biblical Seminary. As a 40-year missionary, she brings multicultural understanding and experience of God into daily life. As a Jewish background follower of Jesus, she brings a wholistic view of the Trinity. As a pastor’s wife, she “gets it” about ministry/church life.

As a trained biblical counselor, life coach, and now spiritual director, she brings a breadth of soul care, coming alongside those seeking deeper, abiding, relationship with Him and experience wholeness, healing, direction, and vision for their lives.

Carlee Turner

Email: carlee@ctspiritualdirection.com

Location: Kelowna

Method: In-Person or Virtual

Carlee (MDiv, DipMin, and BA) is a graduate of the Spiritual Direction program at Emmaus Formation Centre.

Carlee provides spiritual direction, specializing in youth and young adults (ages 15-30), and those who have experienced church trauma. Her passion is to create safe spaces for people to encounter God
in ways that bring life and clarity to our faith journeys.

As a spiritual director, Carlee assists directees by providing a safe and confidential space, either in-person in Kelowna, or virtually to explore where God’s Holy Spirit is moving in a person’s life.

Helena Watson

Email: helenawatsonsd@gmail.com

It is an honour and privilege to companion others, being a witness to individuals growing and learning about the goodness and presence of God in their faith journey and daily lives. Certification through Emmaus Formation Center has provided the transition from being a Christian therapist (30 years), adjunct professor, business owner and artist. Family, friends, nature, and the arts, all provide ways that I encounter and experience delight in God. My greatest joy is sharing in the transformative work of God through the Holy Spirit in the lives of others and myself. I am a member of the Order of the Mustard Seed.

Rick Wukasch

Email: rtwukasch@gmail.com

Method: In-Person or Virtual

While serving as a pastor, Rick trained as a spiritual director at Tyndale Seminary and has companioned a wide variety of people in their spiritual journey over the past 12 years. Now in retirement, he especially feels called to be with pastors, supporting their soul care, healing, and spiritual formation. Rick partners with the Holy Spirit to help people recognize, experience, and engage with God in the rhythm of their everyday life. Husband, father, and grandfather, he encounters God and finds awe and delight in his family, and in people, the arts, natural environments, and gardening. Rick will be happy to meet online or in person: rtwukasch@gmail.com

Emmaus Spiritual Directors

The testimonies of people who had experienced the benefits of having a spiritual director were moving and inspiring. Your ministry is a wonderful expression of God's love and tender care for His treasures here on earth.

Ministry is challenging and can leave those who pursue it feeling depleted and lonely. Spiritual direction replenishes me. It deepens my perspective, keeps me grounded in God’s Word and reminds me that I am connected with Jesus and his community of friends.

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